Agenda item

The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services addressed the Panel. He stated that he does recognise the values of the Connecting Families service and said that the proposed changes were currently in a consultation phase. He said that he was prepared to bring further information back to the Panel.

The Chair stated that she would welcome an update sooner rather than later.

Councillor May agreed and said that Members should be aware of any decision. He added that it was an officer process at present and that the timeline for the consultation has been extended.

He explained that Families First would change the role of the Local Authority and some of its aspects with regard to Social Care by seeking to provide an integrated front door. He added that there would be a focus on early intervention and prevention that would aim to provide support before problems escalate, reducing the need for statutory, long-term intervention.

The Director of Children’s Services and Education added that it is the intention to create multi-discipline teams that combine staff from Early Help, Child in Need, Child Protection and other services which will lead to families experiencing the least changes possible through their support provision.

She said that staff from Connecting Families would be brought into this work and that there was a need to develop a broader approach to family group decision making.

The Chair asked if the process has been explained to all staff concerned.

The Director of Children’s Services and Education replied that information regarding the proposals has been available for some time and that workshops and engagement sessions have been held prior to the formal consultation.

The Executive Director for People added that he was committed to meeting with staff to discuss their concerns.

Councillor Joanna Wright commented that she felt this decision would lead to the service becoming more challenged. She added that as a Corporate Parent it was important for every child to be looked after to the highest standard.

She stated that staff need to feel empowered and that she was disappointed by the process to date.

Councillor May reiterated that the consultation remains ongoing and that he would listen and work with the Director of Children’s Services to find a solution for the staff and the children. He said that he values the staff highly and would seek to do better.

The Chair said that she acknowledged that this was a difficult time for all concerned and encouraged work to be carried out to find a solution.

The Executive Director for People said he was aware of the Council’s Corporate Parent role and was not able to deliver any further information at this stage as the consultation was ongoing.

Councillor Wright informed the Panel that she had received a number of questions from the absent Councillor Liz Hardman which she would forward to Democratic Services so that they could be responded to by officers. She asked Councillor May if the Cabinet were 100% behind what the officers have done or have they asked them to restart the official consultation once it has been made fit for purpose.

Councillor May replied that he would need to appropriate advice before answering the question.

The Executive Director for People said that officers would seek to answer the questions submitted to the best of their ability, but said that depending on the nature of the questions some information may be of a confidential nature.

Councillor Wright asked if staff remained motivated at work.

The Executive Director for People replied that he could see and was aware that some staff were angry and upset and that there was a need to support them.

Councillor David Harding asked if the proposed changes would affect the statistical targets for delivering EHCPs.

The Director of Children’s Services and Education replied that it would be Children’s Social Care that is likely to be more affected by the discussed proposals rather than Education. She said that the proposals were sought to seek improvements and reduce interventions. She added that the service was modelled on the basis of a caseload of 15 children per Social Worker, some with less.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson commented that she had made a recent suggestion to a senior officer in the Council that all Social Workers should be briefed about the role of a Ward Councillor and the concept of Corporate Parenting.

The Chair asked that officers take this proposal from Councillor Jackson away and consider what action to be taken.

Councillor May wished to thank Councillor Wright for her role in enabling the “Tree of Life”, a rare sapling from the felled Sycamore Gap tree to be planted in Alice Park, Bath as a symbol of resilience and hope for children and young people in care.

Councillor May highlighted the following points from his published update.

Education and SEND White Paper

The Government's new Education and SEND white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, released on 23rd February 2026. This marks a significant national shift towards a broader, more inclusive education system, with a clear focus on re-engaging families, reducing persistent absence, and strengthening the services surrounding schools. The Government has presented this as a long-term reform programme designed to take the education system "into the 2030s and beyond," indicating that implementation will be phased and sustained over a number of years.

Officers will now begin interpreting what these reforms could mean for B&NES. The DFE has asked all LAs, including our Local Area Inclusion Partnership, to start working with partners and schools to complete a DFE Maturity Matrix to assist with advanced preparation for the reforms. I will report back to the Panel as this analysis and assessment develops.

Important to note that we are expected to continue operating in the current SEND system until March 29, whilst preparing for the implementation of the reforms. We expect demand for EHCPs to increase during this period.

B&NES Safety Valve Programme

We have received formal written confirmation from the DfE that the national Safety Valve programme has now officially closed. In addition, the DfE has confirmed that it will fund 90% of all remaining high needs deficits accumulated up to the end of the 2025/26 financial year. These accumulated deficits are currently held by all Local Authorities, but do not form part of the council's overall budget due to a Government statutory override.

B&NES Free Schools – Update

As I write this update, officers are finalising our plans and response to the DFE regarding our commitment to the delivery of Free Schools on the Culverhay site.

Councillor Jackson addressed the Panel regarding the BANES SACRE Annual Report September 2024- August 2025. She thanked the Cabinet Member for his continued support.

She said that SACRE had achieved a considerable amount, but navigating the proposed national and regional developments, and ensuring every child in BANES receives high quality RE, an appreciation of traditions other than their own as well as the tools to develop their own inner spirituality and moral standards will be a challenge.

She stated that she was pleased that the Annual Report is now published to this Panel and felt that their engagement with schools had improved.

She stated that defining so called British values, which are really derived from the Western European Enlightenment, relating RE to the national curriculum and encouraging academic study remains a challenge.

She added that working out the best Agreed Syllabus for BANES, whether national or not was also key and that providing high quality resources is only the beginning of the story.

She thanked all the officers for their work throughout the year.

Councillor Michael Auton said that he was concerned that investment in SEND in North East Somerset should also continue, in particular through a nursery in his ward.

Councillor May replied that the new Free School was due to provide support for all young people across BANES between the ages of 4 – 19.

Councillor Wright said that travel to the new school would still be a challenge for many pupils and their families and they were likely to need further support. She added that mainstream schools need to be resourced properly in this regard and that Home to School Transport should be scrutinised by the Council.

She called for local MATs, not just situated within BANEs, to be more involved in this type of discussion.

Councillor May said that representatives from the Regional Office for the Department of Education have been asked to attend the Panel once a year. He added that it should be recognised that performance within schools is good on the whole and that issues are raised at the School Standards Board.

Councillor Jackson commented that she would welcome the Panel to receive further information relating to MATs as this issue progresses. She asked if the Hindu temple, currently sited within Culverhay, could be given assistance to relocate if required.

Councillor May replied that he believed that it was almost certain that the temple could be retained on the site. He said that he would also look to provide more information, performance etc. relating to MATS, to the Panel on a regular basis.

Councillor Jackson asked how much dialogue the Education team has with Planning / Housing officers with regard to SEND pupils expected through new housing developments.

Councillor May replied that this was a matter for the Local Plan to consider alongside other factors such as roads, health, social care and more. He added that the Health & Wellbeing Board has also raised this as an issue to be considered.

The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, thanked Councillor May for his update.